Richebourg 2016 Domaine Romanèe Conti

Richebourg Grand Cru 2016 – Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

The powerful and refined soul of Vosne-Romanée Pinot Noir

Vintage and Climatic Conditions

2016 was a complex and challenging year in Burgundy, marked by spring frosts and heavy rains. However, a stable, dry summer ensured perfect ripeness for the remaining grapes. The result is an elegant, deep, and vibrant Richebourg with expressive depth and great ageing potential.

Vineyard and Production Philosophy

The Richebourg vineyards grow on clay-limestone soils and are farmed using certified biodynamic practices. Already low yields were further reduced in 2016, resulting in intensely concentrated fruit.

Vinification and Ageing

Fermentation is spontaneous, in open wooden vats, with indigenous yeasts and a significant proportion of whole clusters. The wine is aged for 18 months in new French oak barrels, unfiltered and unfined, in classic DRC style.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Deep ruby with garnet highlights

• Nose: Black cherry, blackcurrant, oriental spices, black pepper, violet, leather, and forest floor

• Palate: Elegant and layered, with ultra-fine tannins, vibrant freshness, and a persistent, mineral finish

Recommended Pairings

• Game meats, duck à l’orange, truffle filet, aged cheeses

• Also ideal as a meditation wine in a large glass

Serving Temperature

16–18°C, with at least 2 hours of decanting

Ageing Potential

Long: now through 2045+

📄 Technical Sheet

• Producer: Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

• Vintage: 2016

• Appellation: Richebourg Grand Cru AOC

• Grape variety: 100% Pinot Noir

• Region: Vosne-Romanée, Côte de Nuits, Burgundy (France)

• Farming: Certified biodynamic

• Harvest: Manual, rigorous selection

• Fermentation: Spontaneous with indigenous yeasts, in wooden vats, partial whole cluster

• Ageing: 18 months in new French oak barrels

• Filtration: None

• Alcohol: Approx. 13.5% vol

• Production: Extremely limited

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Domaine de la Romanée‑Conti

The absolute essence of Burgundy—built on rigor, land, and time

The Domaine de la Romanée‑Conti, widely known as DRC, is far more than a wine producer—it is a global icon and a symbol of enological perfection located in the heart of Côte de Nuits, in Vosne‑Romanée. Its history spans centuries and is intertwined with the legendary vineyard that bears its name—Romanée‑Conti—already revered in the 18th century, contested by nobles and cardinals. The Domaine’s modern identity was shaped in the 20th century by the de Villaine and Leroy families, who continue to share its management and vision. All its vineyards are Grand Cru, nestled in Burgundy’s most prized plots—from La Tâche and Richebourg to Romanée‑Saint‑Vivant and Montrachet. With extremely limited production, each bottle is the result of an unwavering pursuit of purity, depth, and terroir fidelity.

In the vineyard: rigorous biodynamics and profound respect for terroir

At DRC, organic farming is not a trend, but a deeply held conviction. The vineyards have been certified biodynamic for years, though respect for the land predates any certification. Every vineyard practice—including harvest—is done by hand, grounded in the goal of expressing each cru fully. Each vine is treated as a unique individual; there is no forcing, no irrigation, no synthetic products. Exceptionally low yields, coupled with vine age, yield grapes of unparalleled concentration and complexity. Central to the philosophy is time—time to listen to the soil, observe the vine, and wait for perfect maturity. Only through such patience can one create a wine capable of transcending decades.

In the cellar: rigor, gravity, and almost religious classicism

Winemaking at DRC is marked by monastic precision, with meticulous observation of each micro-lot. Grapes are sorted one by one with obsessive care. Fermentation occurs in oak vats with native yeasts, often using whole clusters, and with no artificial temperature control. The must follows its natural course, without mechanical interference. Post-fermentation, wines are aged roughly 18 months in 100% new barriques, always with the aim of preserving, not masking, the wine’s identity. There is no room for shortcuts or compromise. Each cuvée is bottled unfiltered after a slow, precise, and silent evolution. The result is a wine beyond time—devoid of fashion or concession, speaking with an ethereal, vibrant, unmatched voice.